by Jane Cross Simpson (1811 - 1886)
Pray without ceasing
Language: English
Go when the morning shineth, Go when the moon is bright; Go when the day declineth, Go in the hush of night; Go with pure heart and feeling, Cast earthly thoughts away, And in thy chamber kneeling, Do thou in secret pray. Remember all who love thee; All who are loved by thee; Pray, too, for those who hate thee, If any such there be. Then for thyself in meekness, A blessing humbly claim; And link with each petition Thy great Redeemer's Name. But if 'tis e'er denied thee In solitude to pray, Should holy thought come o'er thee, When friends are round the way-- E'en then, in silence breathing, The spirit, rais'd above, Will reach the throne of glory, Of mercy, truth, and love. When'er thou pin'st in sickness Before His foot-stool fall; Remember in thy gladness, His love who gave them all. Oh! not a joy or blessing With this we can compare, The power which He has given, To approach His throne in prayer. Amen.
Prayer. This appeared in The Edinburgh Literary Journal, Feb. 26, 1831, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, and again in her April Hours, 1838, in 3 st. The full text from Mrs. Simpson's manuscript was given in Lyra Britannica, 1867, p. 507. It is extensively used. It is sometimes erroneously attributed to "Lord Morpeth;" and again to "Lord Carlisle."
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Cross Simpson (1811 - 1886) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ann Sheppard Mounsey (1811 - 1891), as Ann Sheppard Bartholomew, "Pray without ceasing", 1870 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-08-08
Line count: 33
Word count: 168